Johnson Semi Auto

griaguns

griaguns

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
353   0   0
Location
Vancouver Island B.C.
So my buddy has a Johnson that he wants to sell.He has thought about selling it through a broker to the U.S but it's a hassle.Its in good condition and shoots awesome but thrashes brass when its ejected and throws it a ridiculous distance.Are there collectors of these things in Canada.I can't post it Cruz its not mi e and he isn't computer savvy.
Any thoughts.
Graham
 
The odd Johnson rifle has come up here on the EE over the years, and they always appear to sell quickly. I have found that there are many solid buyers here - as you likely well know with your 324 trader rating. He may have more of an issue posting a high-end item with a lower rating. Lots of collectors of military rifles on here!

Exporting to the US is a hassle, and consigning to a Canadian store often costs a hefty percentage.

I would suggest that he join CGN, list the rifle with pics and a well-written ad with an honest description, lots of pictures to indicate condition as well as markings, with his CGN handle and date on a slip of paper beside each photo - with you to assist him if he's not IT-savvy. If he prices high, expect to wait or get some offers, and he should be prepared for a face to face deal or additional requests for a call or additional photos to verify identify.
 
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I'm not 100% sure on this, I think its impossible to import a US military surplus firearm back into the US.
 
Take this for what it is worth. Many years ago I had a US customer pay me for a Johnson rifle, he was convinced that he would be able to import her. After several years he admitted I was right and I refunded him his purchase price as he was refused an import licence into the US. When you have established a fair market price send me an e-mail as I may be interested in her for myself.

The USMC did use the Johnson in the early days in the Pacific, rumour has it that this may not have been correctly authorised, but it happened.
 
Mr Wolverine said:
Take this for what it is worth. Many years ago I had a US customer pay me for a Johnson rifle, he was convinced that he would be able to import her. After several years he admitted I was right and I refunded him his purchase price as he was refused an import licence into the US. When you have established a fair market price send me an e-mail as I may be interested in her for myself.

The USMC did use the Johnson in the early days in the Pacific, rumour has it that this may not have been correctly authorised, but it happened.
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This was a shipment destined for the Dutch East India company, however the Dutch East Indies was overrun before the order could be completed, leaving a shipment of rifles paid for and warehoused, with nowhere to go. When some enterprising Marines found out about this, they "liberated" the rifles and embarked for the Solomons before anyone knew what was up (the Marines had yet to receive Garands, and were desperate for semi-autos).

Serial #A0009 is one of very few firearms that can be directly tracked to a Medal of Honor winner, Robert Dunlap. Because the Johnsons were never officially in inventory, Dunlap never had to account for the one he carried through the Pacific campaign, and simply kept it after the war, until his death in 2000.

It went up for auction in 2013, and got bought by a gun shop in Galesburg Illinois. http://www.galesburg.com/article/20140303/News/140309932
 
Mr Wolverine said:
Take this for what it is worth. Many years ago I had a US customer pay me for a Johnson rifle, he was convinced that he would be able to import her. After several years he admitted I was right and I refunded him his purchase price as he was refused an import licence into the US.
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Correct, you will not be getting an approved Form 6 for a M1941 Johnson, period.
 
The biggest problem with determining a price for a M1941 Johnson rifle in Canada is: people tend to confuse American asking prices for Canadian selling price/market....
 
Two Johnson rifles just sold at auction (Switzer’s) last weekend for $1,900 and $2,000 respectively. Average condition was 5 or 6/10. The auctioneer said that these were the only 2 he has ever had in his auctions.
 
FirearmsEnthusiast said:
Two Johnson rifles just sold at auction (Switzer’s) last weekend for $1,900 and $2,000 respectively. Average condition was 5 or 6/10. The auctioneer said that these were the only 2 he has ever had in his auctions.
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One was refinished and sporterized. The other was in quite poor condition.

An excellent Johnson is definitely worth upwards of $3500
 
JaredP said:
One was refinished and sporterized. The other was in quite poor condition.

An excellent Johnson is definitely worth upwards of $3500
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Yep - I won the sporterized rifle in this auction. I was looking for a shooter Johnson 1941 as I’m intrigued by the action - very AR-like with a moving barrel like my MG34. Should be here in the next week or two...can’t wait to take to the range!
 
FirearmsEnthusiast said:
Yep - I won the sporterized rifle in this auction. I was looking for a shooter Johnson 1941 as I’m intrigued by the action - very AR-like with a moving barrel like my MG34. Should be here in the next week or two...can’t wait to take to the range!
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You'll love it!
Took mine to the range on the weekend,great gun to shoot and quite an attention-getter.

But like all my semi auto's it throws the brass out a fair distance so I cobbled together a catcher made from a couple pieces of copper pipe, a board and some bug screen,clamped onto the bench with a C clamp,that way most of the brass ends up on the bench.
Have fun,hope yours will work as well as mine.
 
FirearmsEnthusiast said:
Yep - I won the sporterized rifle in this auction. I was looking for a shooter Johnson 1941 as I’m intrigued by the action - very AR-like with a moving barrel like my MG34. Should be here in the next week or two...can’t wait to take to the range!
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My Johnson has not been fired since acquiring her about 18 years ago . Was actually a bit concerned about any possible hiccups with full house ammo breaking any hard to get parts, & intended to download a few to try but never got a "roundtuit" . It'd be very interesting to know how your range day works out.
 
thunderflash said:
My Johnson has not been fired since acquiring her about 18 years ago . Was actually a bit concerned about any possible hiccups with full house ammo breaking any hard to get parts, & intended to download a few to try but never got a "roundtuit" . It'd be very interesting to know how your range day works out.
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Initial range day was good - shot some 30-06 handloads loaded light - the rifle cycled well in general, but did have 2 failures to eject, and several of the rims of the ejected cases showed some pull dents from the extractor. I stripped and cleaned the bolt and extractor, and scrubbed the chamber hopefully to lighten primary extraction force. I also noticed that the front sight was loose, so am working on that.

Very pleased so far - it's a neat design that shares several design elements with the AR series of rifles. Will post pics and more details after my next trip to the range!
 
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